July 31, 2015
Downer EDI’s Mining division will provide $3000 to enable six female South Burnett students to attend the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network (QRRRWN) State Conference in Biloela in September.
The QRRRWN is an organisation that participates in a number of business, community and volunteer programs in an effort to build stronger communities and enhance female leadership.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Women Inspiring Women’.
It will feature a number of inspirational female keynote speakers, including Australia’s Local Hero for 2015, Juliette Wright; futurist Anna Littleboy, a Research Director at the CSIRO; and Kim Harrington, Associate Vice Chancellor from Central Queensland University.
The girls’ attendance is part of an Aspiration and Resilience program being driven by Nanango State High School teacher Kayleen Freeman.
Kayleen believes the conference will expose the six local students to the qualities and skills necessary to prosper in non-traditional roles in rural communities.
Kayleen’s goal is to help build community resilience, specifically in the South Burnett region, by supporting young women at high school level in their academic, sporting, social and community endeavours.
Mrs Freeman is now sending applications out to local schools and will select the six girls who’ll take part in the three-day conference soon.
The QRRRWN’s Barambah Branch and Bendigo Community Bank are also providing assistance with the project.
